MN Twins’ Demoted Star Playing New Position

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Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It’s all but official now. The Minnesota Twins appear to have moved on from Royce Lewis as their starting third baseman. Demoted to Triple-A after a slow start to this season, Lewis’ time in a Twins uniform was in danger when he put on a Saints jersey a couple of weeks ago.

However, Lewis’ bat caught fire immediately upon his move to St. Paul. After two more homers on Tuesday, Royce is now batting .333 with an absolutely absurd 1.354 OPS in 12 games (48 at-bats) down on the farm.

Unfortunately for the former No. 1 overall draft pick, the Twins made it very clear when he was demoted that third base at the big league level now belongs to Brooks Lee, who has been playing incredibly well, since the move.

So if the Minnesota Twins are going to recall Lewis without it being triggered by some sort of injury, the soon-to-be 27-year-old will have to make a move to the right side of the infield, likely first base, once Luke Keachall finds his bat.nd it begins in earnest on Wednesday.

Royce Lewis’ moving to second base?

Well, just one day after a report dropped following Saints practice on Tuesday, revealing that Lewis was taking reps at both second and first base during Saints practice on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, next to Royce’s name in the St. Paul lineup, was the number 4 (2B), not 5 (3B).

We’ll see if the Twins and Saints parlay Lewis’ appearance at second base today, into some starts at first base in the near future. Going forward, we’ll see if he gets any more run at third. If Minnesota is pondering a call-up in the near future, I doubt we see him back at the hot corner.

This is Lewis’ first start at second base since September 4, 2024, when he played the position for the Minnesota Twins, against the Tampa Bay Rays. Royce wasn’t thrilled over the in-season change change of positions back then. Of course, the circumstances were much different than they are today.

This time around, Lewis has no choice but to find his best path back to the big leagues, and that wasn’t at third base. With Kaelen Culpepper knocking on the MLB door, it isn’t at shortstop either.

Is first base Royce Lewis’ ultimate destination?

Luke Keaschall — who currently starts at second base — has been hitting better of late (.294 average since May). So unless he falls back off a cliff, the ultimate move for Royce Lewis is probably on the right-side corner, at first base.

While it’s possible Keaschall is better suited for left field, than he is the infield (-3 DRS, -1 OAA, -1 FRV), that would be a somewhat drastic move, just to make room for Lewis, who looked pretty good at 2nd this afternoon.

If Luke sticks on the dirt, Royce may have no choice but to figure out his way as a first baseman, at least for the rest of this season. Given his power stroke — which he’s been showing off in a major way down in St,. Paul (9 homers in 12 games), he’d certainly carry a stick worth of first base.

Swing changes made away from MN Twins are working

While down in St. Paul, it seems as though Royce Lewis has taken his swing into his own hands (no pun intended) by incorporating changes outside of what was being done with the Minnesota Twins.

Lewis hired a hitting coach this offseason, but ceased using him at the request of the team. Since his demotion, Royce has gone back to leaning on his old habits, and outside influences, to help him hit 9 home runs, 3 doubles and bat in 17 runs in 12 games down at Triple A.

Related: Injured MN Twins Top Prospect Nearing Return

Utilizing a leg kick is something that has been debated about Lewis’ swing going back to his time as a prospect. It is not nearly as pronounced as it was when he came into pro ball, but is evident as part of his load once again.

The Twins aren’t going to promote Lewis quickly after ultimately deciding to demote him. They need to make sure he’s not just feasting on Triple-A pitching, and with the position changes, he’ll need to acclimate there as well. That said, his hot start across town is pretty hard to ignore as well.

A promotion for Royce Lewis isn’t as straightforward as raising his statistical results. He’s working on process, both offensively and defensively, but he couldn’t have asked for a better start to his demotion… and one that could lead to a much quicker recall than we all expected initially.

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